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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

The vast majority of tourism in the Kingdom revolves around pilgrimages to Mecca, with more than 10 million travellers visiting Islam's holy city each year. Yet the world's largest exporter of oil and one of the richest countries on the planet is trying to change that fact and encourage travellers to stay for longer. Most visitors will need to acquire a visa, although this requirement doesn't apply to citizens of certain countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.

The natural beauty of the empty Red Sea beaches like Haql, Al-Shuaibah, Beesh, Yanbu, and Farasan, sand dunes as far as the eye can see, and rich coral reefs all provide big draws for visitors. In addition, there are over 200 public and private museums around the country, with the National Museum in capital Riyadh being one of the best.

The Asir mountains in the south-west are among the most remote places on the planet. Make sure to visit Mada’in Saleh, where 131 tombs lay buried in the ground, the former trading centre Al-Faw and Najran Fort.

Hotels in Saudi Arabia range from five-star luxury to simple, clean accommodation. Al Ahsa InterContinental and the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh are two of the best, with the quirky Al-Barraq Hotel an option for an offbeat traveller.

City guides

Dammam

As your flight to Dammam lands, you’ll see Saudi Arabia’s fifth largest city rise out of the desert, glittering, international and oil-rich.

The baggage allowance for your flight will depend on your class of travel: 30kgkilograms in Economy Class, 40kgkilograms in Business Class and 50kgkilograms in First Class. For tickets issued after 15 November 2014, there’s also a maximum size for checked baggage.

Complimentary Chauffeur-drive is available in over 70 cities for our First Class and Business Class customers. We’ll take you from your home, office or hotel to the airport and on to your next destination when you arrive.

Visa requirements

In some countries, you may need to arrange a visa before you travel. Check the latest visa requirements for your destination.